Three starting linebackers are gone from Alabama’s 2011 national championship team. How is the Crimson Tide looking in preseason camp at the inside and outside spots? If you haven’t read it already, see Andrew Gribble's story that was posted Friday morning.

Observations

This is the last practice before the Crimson Tide’s last full scrimmage of the preseason. The first scrimmage last Saturday featured high intensity. As position battles continue, can you imagine how intense the action is going to be Saturday afternoon in Bryant-Denny Stadium?

The Crimson Tide is not in full pads today.

Junior wide receiver Kenny Bell had one of his knees wrapped, but he was participating in drills. Alabama coach Nick Saban said Thursday that Bell "has had some nagging sort of things that have been difficult for him to deal
with in camp. We're hopeful that he'll be a player that will make a significant
impact for us."

Junior Kevin Norwood and sophomore DeAndrew White led the two lines of receivers in drills.

Receivers seemed to make more catches during a one-handed drill than some have been making with both hands

In defense of the receivers, many of the passes have been off target. But not the ones from starting quarterback AJ McCarron.

Malcolm Faciane, who was redshirted as a freshman last season, is becoming hard not to notice in as a 6-foot-5, 259-pound backup tight end.

Brent Callaway, oneof the stars of the 2011 signing class, has been going largely unnoticed as an H-back.

Jalston Fowler spent the one period that the news media was allowed to observe with the running backs.

What’s next?

Saban and players get a break from dealing with the news media today. Or does the news media get a break from dealing with Saban and players? Whatever. No press conference. No interviews. What’s next is a 1 p.m. scrimmage Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium. As usual, it’s closed to the general public and news media. The Tide then gets its longest break of the preseason. It will be off Sunday and Monday. That is, there will be no practice those days. Practice will resume Tuesday, and it shifts from a 2:30 p.m. start to the 3:30 p.m. start that will be standard for the remainder of the regular season.